Total spending on newbuildings and secondhand tonnage combined stands at an estimated $147bn so far in 2021, according to data from Clarksons.
This compares with just $74bn recorded in the whole of last year when activity was severely disrupted by the initial impacts of Covid-19, the shipbroker said.
Clarksons said spending this year was 46% above the average annual spend of $100bn seen across the prior three years.
"In fact, with two weeks of the year to go, and allowing for some late reporting, the final total could even be the largest total since the financial crisis, vying with the figure of $159bn recorded in 2013."
However, it is still well short of the that seen during the boom of the 2000s when more than $200bn was invested in both 2006 and 2008 and over $300bn in 2007.
Clarksons said investment in newbuild tonnage this year has so far totaled $103bn, which is set to be the highest level seen since 2013 when $137bn was spent.
"The record containership spending spree of 2021 has provided major impetus, with $41bn spent on 537 ships of 4.2m teu so far this year, while a further $15bn has been invested in LNG carriers and $14bn in bulk carriers," the shipbroker said.
Clarksons said 41% of the spending on newbuild orders — some $43bn — has been invested in vessels set to be delivered with alternative capable fuel capability, led by LNG capable units but with other alternative fuel options also starting to gain some traction.
Of the overall newbuilding investment, $15bn has been placed by Chinese owners and $9bn by their Greek counterparts. Meanwhile, 44% of the total has been spent at Chinese shipbuilders and 42% at South Korean yards.
Clarksons said the total orderbook now stands at 11% of the fleet in gross tonnage terms against 9% at the start of the year, but this varies across sectors.
The secondhand market has also seen record volumes this year with 2,100 ships of 135m-dwt sold in deals estimated to be worth around $43bn.
Clarksons said this year’s figure could yet get close to 2007’s record $46bn, with prices having risen sharply across 2021, notably in the containership and bulker sectors.
Overall, a total of 7% of the start year fleet in deadweight terms has so far changed hands, with Greeks the most active buyers with an estimated spend in excess of $6.8bn, followed by Chinese owners with spending of over $5bn.
Separately, Clarksons said a total of 22.8m-dwt has been reported sold for recycling in 2021 so far, down marginally by 6% year on year on an annualised basis.
